The Federal Government is set to reform Nigeria’s land administration system to unlock an estimated $300 billion in untapped capital, the Minister of Housing and Urban Development, Mr. Ahmed Dangiwa, has said.
Speaking at the 30th Conference of Directors of Lands in Federal and State MDAs, themed “Nigeria Land Titling, Registration and Documentation Programme (NLTRDP): Implementation Mission”, Dangiwa said the initiative, known as Land4Growth, aims to modernize land governance, boost economic growth, and improve access to credit nationwide.
He described as “unacceptable” that less than five per cent of Nigeria’s land is formally registered, a situation that traps millions in economic stagnation. The minister highlighted the success of digitization efforts in FCT, Kaduna, Kano, Edo, and Nasarawa, which have increased efficiency, revenue, and public confidence.
Dangiwa outlined key pillars of the programme: standardizing procedures nationwide, expanding systematic land titling, digitizing registries, strengthening legal frameworks, and unlocking land-based financing. He urged states to align with the initiative, noting they fall into front-runners, emerging reformers, and lagging states.
Kano State Commissioner for Land and Physical Planning, Mr. Abduljabar Umar, said the state has made significant progress through “The Kano Experience”, citing institutional restructuring, digitization, legal reforms, and removal of long-standing land speculators to restore public confidence.
Dangiwa expressed hope that by the next conference, all states would present measurable progress on land titling and its contribution to GDP and IGR.
